Ratchet plate for attachment to a shaft



Oct. 25, 1966 PARKIN ETAL RATCHET PLATE FOR ATTACHMENT TO A SHAFT Filed Feb. 4, 1964 I NTOR 5 9 m R T Na T RH H N flov L E W Y in D an,

United States Patent 3,280,688 RATCHET PLATE FOR ATTACHMENT TO A SHAFT Leslie Parkin, Bobhers Mill, and Sydney Alan Andrews, Stapleford, England, assignors to United-Carr Fastener Corporation, Boston, Mass, a corporation of Delaware Filed Feb. 4, 1964, Ser. No. 342,389

Claims priority, application Great Britain, Feb. 6, 1963,

1 Claim. '(Cl. 85-36) This invention relates to ratchet plates for attachment to a rod-like element, for example, to secure a wheel or the like thereon.

According to the present invention, a ratchet plate for attachment to a rod-like element comprises a disclike member made of spring steel and divided by a slot into opposed arms which are relatively yieldable to one another, the opposed inner surfaces of the arms being shaped for making frictional gripping engagement with the rod-like element when the latter is inserted between the arms, the free end of each arm being provided with a lug, and the logs on the arms being in opposed relation to permit their being moved relatively to one another to effect the movement of the arms away from one another to permit the ratchet plate to be removed from the rod-like element.

To enable the invention to be fully understood, it will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a ratchet plate according to one embodiment of the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a plan view of a ratchet plate assembled on a rod-like element;

FIGURE 3 i a side view of the assembly according to FIGURE 2, and illustrating the method of releasing the ratchet plate;

FIGURE 4 is a perspective View of a [ratchet plate according to a second embodiment of the invention;

FIGURE 5 is a plan view of a ratchet assembled on a rod-like element; and

FIGURE 6 is a side View of the assembly according to FIGURE 5, and illustrating the method of releasing the ratchet plate.

With reference to the embodiment illustrated in FIG- URES 1 to 3 of the accompanying drawings, the ratchet plate comprises a disc formed of spring steel having a slot so as to divide the disc into opposed relatively yieldable arcuate shaped arms 1 and 2. Each anm includes a substantially fiat outer portion 3, 4 and a part-dome inner portion 5, 6, the inner edge of which is of arcuate shape as indicated at 7, 8 such that the opposed edges 7, 8, define an aperture of slightly less diameter than that of the rod-like element a with which the ratchet plate is to be used.

The free ends of the arms are bent upwardly to provide integral lugs 9, 10 extending substantially at right angles to the adjacent surfaces of the arms and in opposed relationship to one another.

The ratchet plate is assembled on a rod a to secure a member such as a wheel b thereon, the ratchet plate being assembled by presenting the end of the rod a to the aperture defined by the edges 7 and 8, and applying axially directed pressure to force the ratchet plate over the end of the rod so that the edges 7 and 8 make good frictional engagement with the rod.

To remove the ratchet plate, a tool such as a screw driver 0 is inserted between the opposed lugs 9, 10, and the screwdriver is then rotated through a suitable angle to apply a leverage to the lugs to force them away from one another which action causes the arms to be flexed outwardly to release the frictional engagement with the rod so that the ratchet plate can be readily removed.

With reference to the embodiment illlu-strated in FIGURES 4 to 6, With the exception of the tool engaging lugs, the parts of this embodiment are identical to those in the embodiment illustrated in FIGURES 1 to 3 and are indicated by similar reference numerals having the addition of an index a.

The principal difference is the arrangement of the tool engaging lugs, and as illustrated, the free ends of the arms are formed with overlapping portions which are bent to form lugs 9a, lfia extending substantially at right angles to the adjacent surfaces of the arms and in opposed relation to one another.

The ratchet plate according to the second embodiment of the invention is assembled with a rod-like element in a similar manner to that described above.

When it is desired to release the ratchet plate from the rod, a tool such as a pair of pliers d is used to grip the opposed lugs 9a, 10a and squeeze them towards one another. It will be noted that by reason of the disposition of the lugs, this squeezing action will cause the arms to flex outwardly so as to release the frictional gripping engagement with the rod to enable the ratchet plate to be readily removed.

We claim:

A ratchet plate for attachment to a rod-like element comprising an annular disc-like member made of spring steel and divided by a slot into opposed arms which are relatively yieldable to one another, the opposed inner surfaces of said arm being shaped for making frictional gripping engagement with the rod-like element when the latter is inserted between said arms, each of said arms comprising a substantially flat outer radial portion and a cone-shaped inner radial portion, the latter cone-shaped portion of the two arms being in opposed relation, their inner edges defining an aperture of slightly less diameter than that of the rod-like element to be frictionally engaged and the free end of each arm being provided with a lug extending therefrom and said lugs being in spaced relation and formed on overlapping portions of said arms and are so disposed that movement of the lugs toward one another will effect the outward movement of the arms.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,362,215 12/1920 Appelt. 1,696,912 1/1929 Herold.

FOREIGN PATENTS 461,048 2/ 1937 Great Britain.

CARL W. TOMLIN, Primary Examiner. A. V. KUNDRAT, Assistant Examiner.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,280,688 October 25, 1966 Leslie Parkin et a1.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

In the heading to the printed specification, lines 5 and 6, for "assignors to United-Carr Fastener Corporation, Boston, Mass., a corporation of Delaware" read assignors to United- Carr Incorporated, a corporation o Delaware Signed and sealed this 12th day of September 1967.

(SEAL) Attest:

ERNEST W. SWIDER Attesting Officer EDWARD J. BRENNER Commissioner of Patents 

